\"Howdidyouwordyourinquiries?\"
\"Wesimplydetailedthecircumstances，andsaidthatweshouldbegladofanyinformationwhichcouldhelpus。\"
\"Youdidnotaskforparticularsonanypointwhichappearedtoyoutobecrucial?\"
\"IaskedaboutStangerson。\"
\"Nothingelse?Istherenocircumstanceonwhichthiswholecaseappearstohinge?Willyounottelegraphagain?\"
\"IhavesaidallIhavetosay，\"saidGregson，inanoffendedvoice。
SherlockHolmeschuckledtohimself，andappearedtobeabouttomakesomeremark，whenLestrade，whohadbeeninthefrontroomwhilewewereholdingthisconversationinthehall，reappeareduponthescene，rubbinghishandsinapompousandself-satisfiedmanner。
\"Mr。Gregson，\"hesaid，\"Ihavejustmadeadiscoveryofthehighestimportance，andonewhichwouldhavebeenoverlookedhadInotmadeacarefulexaminationofthewalls。\"
Thelittleman\'seyessparkledashespoke，andhewasevidentlyinastateofsuppressedexultationathavingscoredapointagainsthiscolleague。
\"Comehere，\"hesaid，bustlingbackintotheroom，theatmosphereofwhichfeltclearersincetheremovalofitsghastlyinmate。\"Now，standthere!\"
Hestruckamatchonhisbootandhelditupagainstthewall。
\"Lookatthat!\"hesaid，triumphantly。
Ihaveremarkedthatthepaperhadfallenawayinparts。
Inthisparticularcorneroftheroomalargepiecehadpeeledoff，leavingayellowsquareofcoarseplastering。Acrossthisbarespacetherewasscrawledinblood-redlettersasingleword——
RACHE。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofthat?\"criedthedetective，withtheairofashowmanexhibitinghisshow。\"Thiswasoverlookedbecauseitwasinthedarkestcorneroftheroom，andnoonethoughtoflookingthere。Themurdererhaswrittenitwithhisorherownblood。Seethissmearwhereithastrickleddownthewall!Thatdisposesoftheideaofsuicideanyhow。
Whywasthatcornerchosentowriteiton?Iwilltellyou。
Seethatcandleonthemantelpiece。Itwaslitatthetime，andifitwaslitthiscornerwouldbethebrightestinsteadofthedarkestportionofthewall。\"
\"Andwhatdoesitmeannowthatyou_have_foundit?\"askedGregsoninadepreciatoryvoice。
\"Mean?Why，itmeansthatthewriterwasgoingtoputthefemalenameRachel，butwasdisturbedbeforeheorshehadtimetofinish。Youmarkmywords，whenthiscasecomestobeclearedupyouwillfindthatawomannamedRachelhassomethingtodowithit。It\'sallverywellforyoutolaugh，Mr。SherlockHolmes。Youmaybeverysmartandclever，buttheoldhoundisthebest，whenallissaidanddone。\"
\"Ireallybegyourpardon!\"saidmycompanion，whohadruffledthelittleman\'stemperbyburstingintoanexplosionoflaughter。\"Youcertainlyhavethecreditofbeingthefirstofustofindthisout，and，asyousay，itbearseverymarkofhavingbeenwrittenbytheotherparticipantinlastnight\'smystery。Ihavenothadtimetoexaminethisroomyet，butwithyourpermissionIshalldosonow。\"
Ashespoke，hewhippedatapemeasureandalargeroundmagnifyingglassfromhispocket。Withthesetwoimplementshetrottednoiselesslyabouttheroom，sometimesstopping，occasionallykneeling，andoncelyingflatuponhisface。
Soengrossedwashewithhisoccupationthatheappearedtohaveforgottenourpresence，forhechatteredawaytohimselfunderhisbreaththewholetime，keepinguparunningfireofexclamations，groans，whistles，andlittlecriessuggestiveofencouragementandofhope。AsIwatchedhimIwasirresistiblyremindedofapure-bloodedwell-trainedfoxhoundasitdashesbackwardsandforwardsthroughthecovert，whininginitseagerness，untilitcomesacrossthelostscent。Fortwentyminutesormorehecontinuedhisresearches，measuringwiththemostexactcarethedistancebetweenmarkswhichwereentirelyinvisibletome，andoccasionallyapplyinghistapetothewallsinanequallyincomprehensiblemanner。Inoneplacehegatheredupverycarefullyalittlepileofgreydustfromthefloor，andpackeditawayinanenvelope。Finally，heexaminedwithhisglasstheworduponthewall，goingovereveryletterofitwiththemostminuteexactness。Thisdone，heappearedtobesatisfied，forhereplacedhistapeandhisglassinhispocket。
\"Theysaythatgeniusisaninfinitecapacityfortakingpains，\"heremarkedwithasmile。\"It\'saverybaddefinition，butitdoesapplytodetectivework。\"
GregsonandLestradehadwatchedthemanoeuvres{9}oftheiramateurcompanionwithconsiderablecuriosityandsomecontempt。Theyevidentlyfailedtoappreciatethefact，whichIhadbeguntorealize，thatSherlockHolmes\'smallestactionswerealldirectedtowardssomedefiniteandpracticalend。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofit，sir?\"theybothasked。
\"ItwouldberobbingyouofthecreditofthecaseifIwastopresumetohelpyou，\"remarkedmyfriend。\"Youaredoingsowellnowthatitwouldbeapityforanyonetointerfere。\"
Therewasaworldofsarcasminhisvoiceashespoke。
\"Ifyouwillletmeknowhowyourinvestigationsgo，\"
hecontinued，\"IshallbehappytogiveyouanyhelpIcan。
InthemeantimeIshouldliketospeaktotheconstablewhofoundthebody。Canyougivemehisnameandaddress?\"
Lestradeglancedathisnote-book。\"JohnRance，\"hesaid。
\"Heisoffdutynow。Youwillfindhimat46，AudleyCourt，KenningtonParkGate。\"
Holmestookanoteoftheaddress。
\"Comealong，Doctor，\"hesaid；\"weshallgoandlookhimup。
I\'lltellyouonethingwhichmayhelpyouinthecase，\"
hecontinued，turningtothetwodetectives。\"Therehasbeenmurderdone，andthemurdererwasaman。Hewasmorethansixfeethigh，wasintheprimeoflife，hadsmallfeetforhisheight，worecoarse，square-toedbootsandsmokedaTrichinopolycigar。Hecameherewithhisvictiminafour-wheeledcab，whichwasdrawnbyahorsewiththreeoldshoesandonenewoneonhisoffforeleg。Inallprobabilitythemurdererhadafloridface，andthefinger-nailsofhisrighthandwereremarkablylong。Theseareonlyafewindications，buttheymayassistyou。\"
LestradeandGregsonglancedateachotherwithanincreduloussmile。
\"Ifthismanwasmurdered，howwasitdone?\"askedtheformer。
\"Poison，\"saidSherlockHolmescurtly，andstrodeoff。
\"Oneotherthing，Lestrade，\"headded，turningroundatthedoor:
\"`Rache，\'istheGermanfor`revenge；\'sodon\'tloseyourtimelookingforMissRachel。\"
WithwhichParthianshothewalkedaway，leavingthetworivalsopen-mouthedbehindhim。
CHAPTERIV。
WHATJOHNRANCEHADTOTELL。
ITwasoneo\'clockwhenweleftNo。3，LauristonGardens。
SherlockHolmesledmetothenearesttelegraphoffice，whencehedispatchedalongtelegram。Hethenhailedacab，andorderedthedrivertotakeustotheaddressgivenusbyLestrade。
\"Thereisnothinglikefirsthandevidence，\"heremarked；
\"asamatteroffact，mymindisentirelymadeupuponthecase，butstillwemayaswelllearnallthatistobelearned。\"
\"Youamazeme，Holmes，\"saidI。\"Surelyyouarenotassureasyoupretendtobeofallthoseparticularswhichyougave。\"
\"There\'snoroomforamistake，\"heanswered。\"TheveryfirstthingwhichIobservedonarrivingtherewasthatacabhadmadetworutswithitswheelsclosetothecurb。Now，uptolastnight，wehavehadnorainforaweek，sothatthosewheelswhichleftsuchadeepimpressionmusthavebeenthereduringthenight。Therewerethemarksofthehorse\'shoofs，too，theoutlineofoneofwhichwasfarmoreclearlycutthanthatoftheotherthree，showingthatthatwasanewshoe。Sincethecabwasthereaftertherainbegan，andwasnotthereatanytimeduringthemorning——IhaveGregson\'swordforthat——itfollowsthatitmusthavebeenthereduringthenight，and，therefore，thatitbroughtthosetwoindividualstothehouse。\"
\"Thatseemssimpleenough，\"saidI；\"buthowabouttheotherman\'sheight?\"
\"Why，theheightofaman，inninecasesoutoften，canbetoldfromthelengthofhisstride。Itisasimplecalculationenough，thoughthereisnousemyboringyouwithfigures。Ihadthisfellow\'sstridebothontheclayoutsideandonthedustwithin。ThenIhadawayofcheckingmycalculation。Whenamanwritesonawall，hisinstinctleadshimtowriteaboutthelevelofhisowneyes。Nowthatwritingwasjustoversixfeetfromtheground。Itwaschild\'splay。\"
\"Andhisage?\"Iasked。
\"Well，ifamancanstridefouranda-halffeetwithoutthesmallesteffort，hecan\'tbequiteinthesereandyellow。
Thatwasthebreadthofapuddleonthegardenwalkwhichhehadevidentlywalkedacross。Patent-leatherbootshadgoneround，andSquare-toeshadhoppedover。Thereisnomysteryaboutitatall。IamsimplyapplyingtoordinarylifeafewofthosepreceptsofobservationanddeductionwhichI
advocatedinthatarticle。Isthereanythingelsethatpuzzlesyou?\"
\"ThefingernailsandtheTrichinopoly，\"Isuggested。
\"Thewritingonthewallwasdonewithaman\'sforefingerdippedinblood。Myglassallowedmetoobservethattheplasterwasslightlyscratchedindoingit，whichwouldnothavebeenthecaseiftheman\'snailhadbeentrimmed。
Igatheredupsomescatteredashfromthefloor。Itwasdarkincolourandflakey——suchanashasisonlymadebyaTrichinopoly。Ihavemadeaspecialstudyofcigarashes——
infact，Ihavewrittenamonographuponthesubject。
IflattermyselfthatIcandistinguishataglancetheashofanyknownbrand，eitherofcigaroroftobacco。ItisjustinsuchdetailsthattheskilleddetectivediffersfromtheGregsonandLestradetype。\"
\"Andthefloridface?\"Iasked。
\"Ah，thatwasamoredaringshot，thoughIhavenodoubtthatIwasright。Youmustnotaskmethatatthepresentstateoftheaffair。\"
Ipassedmyhandovermybrow。\"Myheadisinawhirl，\"
Iremarked；\"themoreonethinksofitthemoremysteriousitgrows。Howcamethesetwomen——ifthereweretwomen——
intoanemptyhouse?Whathasbecomeofthecabmanwhodrovethem?Howcouldonemancompelanothertotakepoison?
Wheredidthebloodcomefrom?Whatwastheobjectofthemurderer，sincerobberyhadnopartinit?Howcamethewoman\'sringthere?Aboveall，whyshouldthesecondmanwriteuptheGermanwordRACHEbeforedecamping?IconfessthatI
cannotseeanypossiblewayofreconcilingallthesefacts。\"
Mycompanionsmiledapprovingly。
\"Yousumupthedifficultiesofthesituationsuccinctlyandwell，\"hesaid。\"Thereismuchthatisstillobscure，thoughIhavequitemadeupmymindonthemainfacts。AstopoorLestrade\'sdiscoveryitwassimplyablindintendedtoputthepoliceuponawrongtrack，bysuggestingSocialismandsecretsocieties。ItwasnotdonebyaGerman。TheA，ifyounoticed，wasprintedsomewhataftertheGermanfashion。
Now，arealGermaninvariablyprintsintheLatincharacter，sothatwemaysafelysaythatthiswasnotwrittenbyone，butbyaclumsyimitatorwhooverdidhispart。Itwassimplyarusetodivertinquiryintoawrongchannel。I\'mnotgoingtotellyoumuchmoreofthecase，Doctor。Youknowaconjurorgetsnocreditwhenoncehehasexplainedhistrick，andifIshowyoutoomuchofmymethodofworking，youwillcometotheconclusionthatIamaveryordinaryindividualafterall。\"
\"Ishallneverdothat，\"Ianswered；\"youhavebroughtdetectionasnearanexactscienceasiteverwillbebroughtinthisworld。\"
Mycompanionflushedupwithpleasureatmywords，andtheearnestwayinwhichIutteredthem。Ihadalreadyobservedthathewasassensitivetoflatteryonthescoreofhisartasanygirlcouldbeofherbeauty。
\"I\'lltellyouoneotherthing，\"hesaid。\"Patentleathers{10}
andSquare-toescameinthesamecab，andtheywalkeddownthepathwaytogetherasfriendlyaspossible——arm-in-arm，inallprobability。Whentheygotinsidetheywalkedupanddowntheroom——orrather，Patent-leathersstoodstillwhileSquare-toeswalkedupanddown。Icouldreadallthatinthedust；andIcouldreadthatashewalkedhegrewmoreandmoreexcited。Thatisshownbytheincreasedlengthofhisstrides。Hewastalkingallthewhile，andworkinghimselfup，nodoubt，intoafury。Thenthetragedyoccurred。
I\'vetoldyouallIknowmyselfnow，fortherestismeresurmiseandconjecture。Wehaveagoodworkingbasis，however，onwhichtostart。Wemusthurryup，forIwanttogotoHalle\'sconcerttohearNormanNerudathisafternoon。\"
Thisconversationhadoccurredwhileourcabhadbeenthreadingitswaythroughalongsuccessionofdingystreetsanddrearyby-ways。Inthedingiestanddreariestofthemourdriversuddenlycametoastand。\"That\'sAudleyCourtinthere，\"hesaid，pointingtoanarrowslitinthelineofdead-colouredbrick。\"You\'llfindmeherewhenyoucomeback。\"
AudleyCourtwasnotanattractivelocality。Thenarrowpassageledusintoaquadranglepavedwithflagsandlinedbysordiddwellings。Wepickedourwayamonggroupsofdirtychildren，andthroughlinesofdiscolouredlinen，untilwecametoNumber46，thedoorofwhichwasdecoratedwithasmallslipofbrassonwhichthenameRancewasengraved。
Onenquirywefoundthattheconstablewasinbed，andwewereshownintoalittlefrontparlourtoawaithiscoming。
Heappearedpresently，lookingalittleirritableatbeingdisturbedinhisslumbers。\"Imademyreportattheoffice，\"
hesaid。
Holmestookahalf-sovereignfromhispocketandplayedwithitpensively。\"Wethoughtthatweshouldliketohearitallfromyourownlips，\"hesaid。
\"IshallbemosthappytotellyouanythingIcan，\"theconstableansweredwithhiseyesuponthelittlegoldendisk。
\"Justletushearitallinyourownwayasitoccurred。\"
Rancesatdownonthehorsehairsofa，andknittedhisbrowsasthoughdeterminednottoomitanythinginhisnarrative。
\"I\'lltellityefromthebeginning，\"hesaid。\"Mytimeisfromtenatnighttosixinthemorning。Ateleventherewasafightatthe`WhiteHart\'；butbarthatallwasquietenoughonthebeat。Atoneo\'clockitbegantorain，andI
metHarryMurcher——himwhohastheHollandGrovebeat——
andwestoodtogetheratthecornerofHenriettaStreeta-talkin\'。
Presently——maybeabouttwooralittleafter——IthoughtIwouldtakealookroundandseethatallwasrightdowntheBrixtonRoad。Itwaspreciousdirtyandlonely。
NotasouldidImeetallthewaydown，thoughacabortwowentpastme。Iwasastrollin\'down，thinkin\'betweenourselveshowuncommonhandyafourofginhotwouldbe，whensuddenlytheglintofalightcaughtmyeyeinthewindowofthatsamehouse。Now，IknewthatthemtwohousesinLauristonGardenswasemptyonaccountofhimthatownsthemwhowon\'thavethedrainsseedto，thoughtheverylasttenantwhatlivedinoneofthemdiedo\'typhoidfever。
Iwasknockedallinaheapthereforeatseeingalightinthewindow，andIsuspectedassomethingwaswrong。
WhenIgottothedoor——\"
\"Youstopped，andthenwalkedbacktothegardengate，\"
mycompanioninterrupted。\"Whatdidyoudothatfor?\"
Rancegaveaviolentjump，andstaredatSherlockHolmeswiththeutmostamazementuponhisfeatures。
\"Why，that\'strue，sir，\"hesaid；\"thoughhowyoucometoknowit，Heavenonlyknows。Yesee，whenIgotuptothedooritwassostillandsolonesome，thatIthoughtI\'dbenonetheworseforsomeonewithme。Iain\'tafearedofanythingonthissideo\'thegrave；butIthoughtthatmaybeitwashimthatdiedo\'thetyphoidinspectingthedrainswhatkilledhim。
Thethoughtgavemeakindo\'turn，andIwalkedbacktothegatetoseeifIcouldseeMurcher\'slantern，buttherewasn\'tnosignofhimnorofanyoneelse。\"
\"Therewasnooneinthestreet?\"
\"Notalivin\'soul，sir，norasmuchasadog。ThenIpulledmyselftogetherandwentbackandpushedthedooropen。Allwasquietinside，soIwentintotheroomwherethelightwasa-burnin\'。Therewasacandleflickerin\'onthemantelpiece——aredwaxone——andbyitslightIsaw——\"
\"Yes，Iknowallthatyousaw。Youwalkedroundtheroomseveraltimes，andyoukneltdownbythebody，andthenyouwalkedthroughandtriedthekitchendoor，andthen——\"
JohnRancesprangtohisfeetwithafrightenedfaceandsuspicioninhiseyes。\"Wherewasyouhidtoseeallthat?\"
hecried。\"Itseemstomethatyouknowsadealmorethanyoushould。\"
Holmeslaughedandthrewhiscardacrossthetabletotheconstable。\"Don\'tgetarrestingmeforthemurder，\"hesaid。
\"Iamoneofthehoundsandnotthewolf；Mr。GregsonorMr。Lestradewillanswerforthat。Goon，though。Whatdidyoudonext?\"
Ranceresumedhisseat，withouthoweverlosinghismystifiedexpression。\"Iwentbacktothegateandsoundedmywhistle。
ThatbroughtMurcherandtwomoretothespot。\"
\"Wasthestreetemptythen?\"
\"Well，itwas，asfarasanybodythatcouldbeofanygoodgoes。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean?\"
Theconstable\'sfeaturesbroadenedintoagrin。\"I\'veseenmanyadrunkchapinmytime，\"hesaid，\"butneveranyonesocryin\'drunkasthatcove。HewasatthegatewhenIcameout，a-leanin\'upagintherailings，anda-singin\'atthepitcho\'hislungsaboutColumbine\'sNew-fangledBanner，orsomesuchstuff。Hecouldn\'tstand，farlesshelp。\"
\"Whatsortofamanwashe?\"askedSherlockHolmes。
JohnRanceappearedtobesomewhatirritatedatthisdigression。
\"Hewasanuncommondrunksorto\'man，\"hesaid。\"He\'dha\'
foundhisselfinthestationifwehadn\'tbeensotookup。\"
\"Hisface——hisdress——didn\'tyounoticethem?\"Holmesbrokeinimpatiently。
\"IshouldthinkIdidnoticethem，seeingthatIhadtoprophimup——meandMurcherbetweenus。Hewasalongchap，witharedface，thelowerpartmuffledround——\"
\"Thatwilldo，\"criedHolmes。\"Whatbecameofhim?\"
\"We\'denoughtodowithoutlookin\'afterhim，\"thepolicemansaid，inanaggrievedvoice。\"I\'llwagerhefoundhiswayhomeallright。\"
\"Howwashedressed?\"
\"Abrownovercoat。\"
\"Hadheawhipinhishand?\"
\"Awhip——no。\"
\"Hemusthaveleftitbehind，\"mutteredmycompanion。
\"Youdidn\'thappentoseeorhearacabafterthat?\"
\"No。\"
\"There\'sahalf-sovereignforyou，\"mycompanionsaid，standingupandtakinghishat。\"Iamafraid，Rance，thatyouwillneverriseintheforce。Thatheadofyoursshouldbeforuseaswellasornament。Youmighthavegainedyoursergeant\'sstripeslastnight。Themanwhomyouheldinyourhandsisthemanwhoholdstheclueofthismystery，andwhomweareseeking。Thereisnouseofarguingaboutitnow；
Itellyouthatitisso。Comealong，Doctor。\"
Westartedoffforthecabtogether，leavingourinformantincredulous，butobviouslyuncomfortable。
\"Theblunderingfool，\"Holmessaid，bitterly，aswedrovebacktoourlodgings。\"Justtothinkofhishavingsuchanincomparablebitofgoodluck，andnottakingadvantageofit。\"
\"Iamratherinthedarkstill。Itistruethatthedescriptionofthismantallieswithyourideaofthesecondpartyinthismystery。Butwhyshouldhecomebacktothehouseafterleavingit?Thatisnotthewayofcriminals。\"
\"Thering，man，thering:thatwaswhathecamebackfor。
Ifwehavenootherwayofcatchinghim，wecanalwaysbaitourlinewiththering。Ishallhavehim，Doctor——I\'lllayyoutwotoonethatIhavehim。Imustthankyouforitall。
Imightnothavegonebutforyou，andsohavemissedthefineststudyIevercameacross:astudyinscarlet，eh?
Whyshouldn\'tweusealittleartjargon。There\'sthescarletthreadofmurderrunningthroughthecolourlessskeinoflife，andourdutyistounravelit，andisolateit，andexposeeveryinchofit。Andnowforlunch，andthenforNormanNeruda。Herattackandherbowingaresplendid。
What\'sthatlittlethingofChopin\'ssheplayssomagnificently:Tra-la-la-lira-lira-lay。\"
Leaningbackinthecab，thisamateurbloodhoundcarolledawaylikealarkwhileImeditateduponthemany-sidednessofthehumanmind。
CHAPTERV。
OURADVERTISEMENTBRINGSAVISITOR。
OURmorning\'sexertionshadbeentoomuchformyweakhealth，andIwastiredoutintheafternoon。AfterHolmes\'
departurefortheconcert，Ilaydownuponthesofaandendeavouredtogetacoupleofhours\'sleep。Itwasauselessattempt。Mymindhadbeentoomuchexcitedbyallthathadoccurred，andthestrangestfanciesandsurmisescrowdedintoit。EverytimethatIclosedmyeyesIsawbeforemethedistortedbaboon-likecountenanceofthemurderedman。SosinisterwastheimpressionwhichthatfacehadproduceduponmethatIfounditdifficulttofeelanythingbutgratitudeforhimwhohadremoveditsownerfromtheworld。Ifeverhumanfeaturesbespokeviceofthemostmalignanttype，theywerecertainlythoseofEnochJ。Drebber，ofCleveland。StillIrecognizedthatjusticemustbedone，andthatthedepravityofthevictimwasnocondonment{11}intheeyesofthelaw。
ThemoreIthoughtofitthemoreextraordinarydidmycompanion\'shypothesis，thatthemanhadbeenpoisoned，appear。Irememberedhowhehadsniffedhislips，andhadnodoubtthathehaddetectedsomethingwhichhadgivenrisetotheidea。Then，again，ifnotpoison，whathadcausedtheman\'sdeath，sincetherewasneitherwoundnormarksofstrangulation?But，ontheotherhand，whosebloodwasthatwhichlaysothicklyuponthefloor?Therewerenosignsofastruggle，norhadthevictimanyweaponwithwhichhemighthavewoundedanantagonist。Aslongasallthesequestionswereunsolved，Ifeltthatsleepwouldbenoeasymatter，eitherforHolmesormyself。Hisquietself-confidentmannerconvincedmethathehadalreadyformedatheorywhichexplainedallthefacts，thoughwhatitwasIcouldnotforaninstantconjecture。
Hewasverylateinreturning——solate，thatIknewthattheconcertcouldnothavedetainedhimallthetime。
Dinnerwasonthetablebeforeheappeared。
\"Itwasmagnificent，\"hesaid，ashetookhisseat。\"DoyourememberwhatDarwinsaysaboutmusic?Heclaimsthatthepowerofproducingandappreciatingitexistedamongthehumanracelongbeforethepowerofspeechwasarrivedat。
Perhapsthatiswhywearesosubtlyinfluencedbyit。
Therearevaguememoriesinoursoulsofthosemistycenturieswhentheworldwasinitschildhood。\"
\"That\'sratherabroadidea，\"Iremarked。
\"One\'sideasmustbeasbroadasNatureiftheyaretointerpretNature，\"heanswered。\"What\'sthematter?
You\'renotlookingquiteyourself。ThisBrixtonRoadaffairhasupsetyou。\"
\"Totellthetruth，ithas，\"Isaid。\"Ioughttobemorecase-hardenedaftermyAfghanexperiences。IsawmyowncomradeshackedtopiecesatMaiwandwithoutlosingmynerve。\"
\"Icanunderstand。Thereisamysteryaboutthiswhichstimulatestheimagination；wherethereisnoimaginationthereisnohorror。Haveyouseentheeveningpaper?\"
\"No。\"
\"Itgivesafairlygoodaccountoftheaffair。Itdoesnotmentionthefactthatwhenthemanwasraisedup，awoman\'sweddingringfelluponthefloor。Itisjustaswellitdoesnot。\"
\"Why?\"
\"Lookatthisadvertisement，\"heanswered。\"Ihadonesenttoeverypaperthismorningimmediatelyaftertheaffair。\"
HethrewthepaperacrosstomeandIglancedattheplaceindicated。Itwasthefirstannouncementinthe\"Found\"column。
\"InBrixtonRoad，thismorning，\"itran，\"aplaingoldweddingring，foundintheroadwaybetweenthe`WhiteHart\'TavernandHollandGrove。ApplyDr。Watson，221B，BakerStreet，betweeneightandninethisevening。\"
\"Excusemyusingyourname，\"hesaid。\"IfIusedmyownsomeofthesedunderheadswouldrecognizeit，andwanttomeddleintheaffair。\"
\"Thatisallright，\"Ianswered。\"Butsupposinganyoneapplies，Ihavenoring。\"
\"Ohyes，youhave，\"saidhe，handingmeone。\"Thiswilldoverywell。Itisalmostafacsimile。\"
\"Andwhodoyouexpectwillanswerthisadvertisement。\"
\"Why，themaninthebrowncoat——ourfloridfriendwiththesquaretoes。Ifhedoesnotcomehimselfhewillsendanaccomplice。\"
\"Wouldhenotconsideritastoodangerous?\"
\"Notatall。Ifmyviewofthecaseiscorrect，andIhaveeveryreasontobelievethatitis，thismanwouldratherriskanythingthanlosethering。AccordingtomynotionhedroppeditwhilestoopingoverDrebber\'sbody，anddidnotmissitatthetime。Afterleavingthehousehediscoveredhislossandhurriedback，butfoundthepolicealreadyinpossession，owingtohisownfollyinleavingthecandleburning。Hehadtopretendtobedrunkinordertoallaythesuspicionswhichmighthavebeenarousedbyhisappearanceatthegate。Nowputyourselfinthatman\'splace。Onthinkingthematterover，itmusthaveoccurredtohimthatitwaspossiblethathehadlosttheringintheroadafterleavingthehouse。Whatwouldhedo，then?Hewouldeagerlylookoutfortheeveningpapersinthehopeofseeingitamongthearticlesfound。Hiseye，ofcourse，wouldlightuponthis。
Hewouldbeoverjoyed。Whyshouldhefearatrap?
Therewouldbenoreasoninhiseyeswhythefindingoftheringshouldbeconnectedwiththemurder。Hewouldcome。
Hewillcome。Youshallseehimwithinanhour?\"
\"Andthen?\"Iasked。
\"Oh，youcanleavemetodealwithhimthen。Haveyouanyarms?\"
\"Ihavemyoldservicerevolverandafewcartridges。\"
\"Youhadbettercleanitandloadit。Hewillbeadesperateman，andthoughIshalltakehimunawares，itisaswelltobereadyforanything。\"
Iwenttomybedroomandfollowedhisadvice。WhenI
returnedwiththepistolthetablehadbeencleared，andHolmeswasengagedinhisfavouriteoccupationofscrapinguponhisviolin。
\"Theplotthickens，\"hesaid，asIentered；\"IhavejusthadananswertomyAmericantelegram。Myviewofthecaseisthecorrectone。\"
\"Andthatis?\"Iaskedeagerly。
\"Myfiddlewouldbethebetterfornewstrings，\"heremarked。
\"Putyourpistolinyourpocket。Whenthefellowcomesspeaktohiminanordinaryway。Leavetheresttome。
Don\'tfrightenhimbylookingathimtoohard。\"
\"Itiseighto\'clocknow，\"Isaid，glancingatmywatch。
\"Yes。Hewillprobablybehereinafewminutes。Openthedoorslightly。Thatwilldo。Nowputthekeyontheinside。
Thankyou!ThisisaqueeroldbookIpickedupatastallyesterday——`DeJureinterGentes\'——publishedinLatinatLiegeintheLowlands，in1642。Charles\'headwasstillfirmonhisshoulderswhenthislittlebrown-backedvolumewasstruckoff。\"
\"Whoistheprinter?\"
\"PhilippedeCroy，whoeverhemayhavebeen。Onthefly-leaf，inveryfadedink，iswritten`ExlibrisGuliolmiWhyte。\'
IwonderwhoWilliamWhytewas。Somepragmaticalseventeenthcenturylawyer，Isuppose。Hiswritinghasalegaltwistaboutit。Herecomesourman，Ithink。\"
Ashespoketherewasasharpringatthebell。SherlockHolmesrosesoftlyandmovedhischairinthedirectionofthedoor。
Weheardtheservantpassalongthehall，andthesharpclickofthelatchassheopenedit。
\"DoesDr。Watsonlivehere?\"askedaclearbutratherharshvoice。Wecouldnotheartheservant\'sreply，butthedoorclosed，andsomeonebegantoascendthestairs。
Thefootfallwasanuncertainandshufflingone。Alookofsurprisepassedoverthefaceofmycompanionashelistenedtoit。Itcameslowlyalongthepassage，andtherewasafeebletapatthedoor。
\"Comein，\"Icried。
Atmysummons，insteadofthemanofviolencewhomweexpected，averyoldandwrinkledwomanhobbledintotheapartment。Sheappearedtobedazzledbythesuddenblazeoflight，andafterdroppingacurtsey，shestoodblinkingatuswithherblearedeyesandfumblinginherpocketwithnervous，shakyfingers。Iglancedatmycompanion，andhisfacehadassumedsuchadisconsolateexpressionthatitwasallIcoulddotokeepmycountenance。
Theoldcronedrewoutaneveningpaper，andpointedatouradvertisement。\"It\'sthisashasbroughtme，goodgentlemen，\"
shesaid，droppinganothercurtsey；\"agoldweddingringintheBrixtonRoad。ItbelongstomygirlSally，aswasmarriedonlythistimetwelvemonth，whichherhusbandisstewardaboardaUnionboat，andwhathe\'dsayifhecome\'omeandfoundherwithoutherringismorethanIcanthink，hebeingshortenoughatthebesto\'times，butmoreespeciallywhenhehasthedrink。
Ifitpleaseyou，shewenttothecircuslastnightalongwith——\"
\"Isthatherring?\"Iasked。
\"TheLordbethanked!\"criedtheoldwoman；\"Sallywillbeagladwomanthisnight。That\'sthering。\"
\"Andwhatmayyouraddressbe?\"Iinquired，takingupapencil。
\"13，DuncanStreet，Houndsditch。Awearywayfromhere。\"
\"TheBrixtonRoaddoesnotliebetweenanycircusandHoundsditch，\"saidSherlockHolmessharply。